Three American citizens who had been detained in China for several years have been released as part of a prisoner exchange, according to media reports. The Americans had allegedly faced charges of espionage and drug-related offenses.
A spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council said on Wednesday, “We are pleased to announce the release of Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung from detention in the People’s Republic of China. Soon, they will return home and be reunited with their families for the first time in many years.”
The release was part of a swap for unidentified Chinese nationals.
Mark Swidan, a Texas businessman, was arrested in China in 2012 on drug-related charges, which he has always denied, according to U.S. media reports.
Kai Li, a Chinese-born U.S. citizen, was arrested in 2016 on suspicion of espionage and later sentenced to 10 years in prison.
John Leung was sentenced to life in prison in 2023 for espionage, media outlets report.
The White House did not provide details about the Chinese citizens released in the exchange.